wash our hands before we eat. Non-kosher food is not part of this discussion as the surrounding verses
show.
―Defileth the man.‖ This word is used in two senses, either what is ―common‖ to all or general like the Koin‚
the Greek (Gentiles), or what is unclean and "common" either ceremonially or in reality. The ceremonial
"commonness" disturbed Peter on the housetop in Joppa (Acts 10:14). One who is thus religiously common
or unclean is cut off from doing his religious acts. "Defilement" was a grave issue with the rabbinical
ceremonialists. Y‘shua appeals to the crowd here: ―Hear and understand‖ (verse 10.) He has a profound
distinction to draw. Moral uncleanness is what makes a man common, defiles him. That is what is to be
dreaded, not to be glossed over. One can see the pettifogging pretenders shrivel up under these withering
words.
15:12 The Pharisees were offended
―Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they
heard this saying?‖
―Were offended.‖ First aorist passive. "Were caused to stumble, have taken offence" (Moffatt), "have turned
against you" (Weymouth), "were shocked" (Goodspeed), "War ill-pleased" (Braid Scots). They took umbrage
at the public rebuke and at such a scorpion sting in it all. It cut to the quick because it was true. It showed in
the glowering countenances of the legalistic Pharisees so plainly that the disciples were uneasy.
15:13 Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up
―But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted
up.‖
With allusions to the sower parables in Matthew chapter 13.
15:14-19 Blind leaders of the blind
―(14) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into
the ditch. (15) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. (16) And Jesus said,
Are ye also yet without understanding? (17) Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the
mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? (18) But those things which proceed out of the
mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:‖
Despite "popular opinion", the situation is the same today. The vast majority of people who say they believe
in the YHWH of the Bible follow teachers who tell them that they are "free" from what they call "the Law" (an
inaccurate translation of "Torah", which is YHWH's revelation/instructions on how to live for all who claim to
be His people). The examples given above (Matt 5:17-21; 15:2-20, Acts 10, etc.) indicate how people ignore
what is explained in the text of the Bible in favour of following man's anti-Torah doctrines. This is not
dissimilar to what many of the religious leaders of Y‘shua's day did. Then, as now, men reject the truth of
God's Torah.
This is NOT to say that we must first learn and follow the Torah to be saved. That has never been the case,
as men and women have always been saved by trusting YHWH through faith, which is a free gift from Him.
No one can merit entry into heaven based on works. What is being said throughout this exegesis is that once
anyone "...comes to know YHWH" and His salvation in Y‘shua His Son – there is a path for them to "walk";
and this is to learn of and begin doing YHWH's Torah (Rom 2:13; James 1:22-25).
The only other path is the "false torah" of the flesh and of the world (i.e., Rom 7:23). Picking and choosing
commandments from the Torah is not an acceptable position with YHWH (James 2:10); nor is "straddling the
fence" (i.e., Rev 3:15-16).
Those commandments that we are able to keep are the ones we should strive to learn of and follow, in order
to be conformed to the image of YHWH – which is a main purpose of the Torah. We cannot keep all of
YHWH's commandments perfectly, because there is no Temple or Aaronic priesthood (and also because
most of us are living outside the land of Israel).